Indian COVID warrior in Oman did her best for everyone until the end

Muscat: The husband of a nurse in Oman who died from COVID-19 after taking care of patients suffering from the disease has said she will be remembered as a person who always did her best for everyone.
Blessy Thomas from India, who died on Monday, worked at the Ministry of Health hospital in Sinaw, where she took care of COVID-19 patients, before contracting the disease herself. She was initially moved to Ibra for treatment, before being transferred to the Royal Hospital in Muscat, where Blessy unfortunately breathed her last.
“When my wife was assigned to the COVID-19 ward in Sinaw, she knew it would be tough, but she did not complain, as she knew the importance of fighting for others, and she did so until the very end,” recalled her husband, Sam George, who lives in Wadi Kabir and works in the capital.
Blessy first experienced flu-like symptoms around 18 August, and was asked to take a few days’ off by her hospital. When things didn’t improve by the 22nd, she was asked to take a COVID-19 test, which came positive, after which she was admitted to the ward in Ibra.
“After that Blessy was admitted to Royal Hospital in the first week of September,” added her husband. “The doctors there gave us regular updates and told her that her lungs had been badly affected by the virus.”
Despite their best efforts, the medical teams at Royal Hospital were unable to save Blessy, whose two children study in the second and sixth grades in Muscat. Officials of the Embassy of India in Muscat have also said that since she died of COVID-19, her last rites will need to be carried out in Oman.
“I have told my children that their mother is not coming back,” said Sam George. “They know she has died of the virus. Over the last few days, I have been taking care of the children, so my friends have been organising all of the paperwork with the various ministries. I now need to go to Sinaw and clear out her flat.”
“I will take the children to India for some time, so that they have a break from all this, but we will definitely come back to Oman,” he added. “My work, after all, is here, and I have to do my job. The employment situation in India is not good, either, so it makes more sense to stay here. It is now my responsibility to make sure my children are well-settled.”
Condolences towards the family were paid by Ratheesh Kalembath, the convener of the Kerala Wing of the Indian Social Club, who asked people in Oman to not discount the seriousness of the pandemic.
“Let us all remember that this is not some localised illness, but a pandemic,” he said. “Everyone must take this seriously. All we can do now for the family is offer our support and condolences during a difficult time for them. What has happened to Blessy is very sad.”
PM Jabir, community welfare secretary, Indian Social Club said, “this is unfortunately the second casualty to take place among healthcare professionals in Oman: we had previously lost a doctor to the disease as well. All of Blessy’s friends have said she was a very kind and dedicated person. This is a very sad day for the family.”
Oman’s Ministry of Health also paid tribute to her, praising her dedication and sincerity to her work. “With great sadness and sorrow, the Ministry of Health of the Sultanate of Oman, mourns the loss of staff nurse Blessy Thomas (Indian National) who passed away yesterday at the Royal hospital’s ICU due to COVID-19,” said the ministry in a statement on the 15th. “The deceased was a true hero and a role model of hard and sincere work.
“His Excellency the Minister of Health, their excellencies and the MOH personnel, and all health workers in Oman express their heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased,” added the ministry. “May Allah grant them the strengths to bear her loss. May her soul rest in peace.”
The All India Malayalee Nurses Association, also mourned her passing. “It is with great sadness and sorrow that we inform you about the loss of one of our heroes on the frontlines due to COVID.
“Staff nurse Blessy Thomas is the first nurse to die due to the pandemic, but she was a true hero because she died as a result of fighting against the pandemic for others to live,” added the organisation. “Please remember her in your prayers for she is always going to be in our hearts, and in the history of nursing in Oman.”